This publication presents mining industry estimates for 2003-04 from the Economic Activity Survey, together with data on a comparable basis for 2001-02 and 2002-03.

Details of Australia's mining commodities produced shown in Chapter 4 are obtained from the various state and Northern Territory departments responsible for the collection of these statistics. See Explanatory Notes paragraphs 37-39 for more detail.

CHANGES TO THIS PUBLICATION

This publication includes the first release of employment estimates (and related ratios) using the new statistical infrastructure described in the previous issue of this publication. These were not included in the previous issue, due to methodological problems in deriving employment data from the taxation system data used. (See the Appendix for details.) A time series of employment estimates using the new statistical infrastructure is presented in table 1.1 at the national level and in table 3.1 for states and territories.

Estimates of most assets and liabilities items (and related ratios) are not available from the 2003-04 collection, and hence are not included in this issue.

REVISIONS

Data for 2001-02 and 2002-03 have been revised since the previous issue of this publication. All comparisons with earlier years are based on revised data. Revisions to key data items are presented in tables 1.1 and 3.1. Revised data for other items are available on-line in updated versions of the original datasets. Please see below.

INFORMATION AVAILABLE ON-LINE

The text components of this publication are available free on-line. A PDF publication and extended data spreadsheets are also available free on-line.

Other information is also available via the Mining Statistics theme page. To access the theme page, go to the ABS web site home page <http://abs.gov.au>. Access the THEMES page by either opening the THEMES hotlink from the top menu bar or opening the Industry hotlink shown under THEMES, in the left-side navigator. Then open the Mining hotlink shown under Industry.

INQUIRIES

For further information about these and related statistics, contact the National Information and Referral Service on 1300 135 070 or John Ridley on Sydney (02) 9268 4541.